Youth who stole €2,300 antique in Dublin to do 200 hours of community service

The teen stole a bottle of Hennessey's brandy worth €150 from a shop on Nassau Street

A YOUTH, who stole an antique statue during a theft spree in Dublin city-centre, must carry out 200 hours' community service to avoid a nine-month sentence.

The 17-year-old boy pleaded guilty at Dublin Children's Court to theft of a bronze and granite statue valued €2,300 from Gormley's Fine Arts at South Frederick Street, on February 21 last.

He also admitted an additional charge for burglary at Foley's at Merchant Row, Dublin 2 on the same day.

The boy, who is from Romania, also pleaded guilty to a litany of charges for other offences in the city-centre on the same date: theft of a bottle of Hennessey’s brandy worth €150 from a shop on Nassau St; stealing a phone; entering as a trespasser to commit theft at the House of Ireland designer gift store and also at the Knobs and Knockers shop on Nassau St.

He also pleaded guilty to stealing a set of hair straighteners from a pharmacy on Fitzwilliam Street.

He also admitted possessing five stolen mobile phones which were taken late on Monday night and in the early hours of March 17 at Dame Court, Dublin 2. It was alleged the youth was involved in the thefts after he “blended in with the crowd”.

Earlier, Judge John O'Connor had said, “it is coming across that there is some professional theft going on”, adding that this was an aggravating factor in the case.

Today, he was furnished with a probation report on the youth, who was accompanied to court by a parent. He ordered the teen to carry out 200 hours of community service otherwise he will face a nine-month sentence.

Sentencing of a teenage co-defendant, who was involved in the two incidents at Gormley's and Foley's was adjourned for four weeks.